All Things Tile Bits

The world of tile bits can get stressful quickly if you don’t know what to look for. For example, different bits are needed for glass vs porcelain, but some bits can be used on glass and ceramic. For this confusion, I will attempt to highlight the key differences and what bits can be used on/with specific tiles using common practices and my personal experience. 

Porcelain Tile- 

     For porcelain tile, there is only one good option when deciding what to use. Diamond-tipped drill bits are going to be the absolute best option for anyone looking to drill a hole. This is because the small pieces of diamond that are infused in the tip of the bit can cut through even the densest of porcelain tile. 

My recommendations-

     DIY- 

For people looking to DIY their project and don’t see themselves needing to drill a large amount of holes, I would recommend a Marshalltown 1 ⅜” diamond hole bit from off the shelf at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot. The reason I recommend something off the shelf is because 

1) It’s cheap (they come in around $20)

2) They’re easy to find and replace if need be 

3) It’s a very common size needed for shower nozzles and pipes

4) You only need a drill to use this bit

5) It comes with a guide that you can stick to the tile and it creates a watertight seal to keep the bit lubricated and cooled

     Professionals-

For professionals, there are so many reputable brands to choose from when looking for tile bits. There is one caveat though, the bits that I recommend for professionals are all compatible with grinders. This is because grinders typically have more speed and have worked much better for drilling holes than a battery drill. So with that out of the way, I know of people buying full sets off Amazon that come with 5-15 diamond-coated drill bits from anywhere from $75-$200 and loving them and lasting a long time. But I’ve also heard of those same sets burning up quickly. What I personally are hole saws from Calidad tools. Their bits have worked so well for me and held up amazingly. I recommend these because

1. It’s a brand that I trust

2. My experience shows me that they can handle the hardest of material without any hiccups

3. They’re affordable for their quality (A set of 5 vacuum brazed bits comes in at ~$190)

4. My experience with their customer service has been unparalleled 

5. They have multiple other products that are also extremely high-quality

Ceramic Tile-

With Ceramic tile, you have the choice of diamond-coated bits or tungsten bits. I have used diamond-coated bits and carbide-tipped bits and both have worked well for me. You can’t go wrong with either choice and the only thing that may influence your choice would be 

1. What you have already

2. What is easily accessible to you

3. What is your Budget

4. What size holes do you need drilled

My recommendations-

For DIYers-

     As before with my porcelain tile bit recommendations, I suggest bits that are readily available in a local supply store. You can’t go wrong with either and the only “barrier to entry” with using carbide bits is that you may have to get used to starting the hole. The pointed tips tend to make it harder to keep the bit centered. If I was going to recommend one though it would be a diamond-coated bit at the size you need. I say this because it can be used on a multitude of items from porcelain to ceramic, to masonry and natural stone like marble or quartz.

Professionals-

     For the person installing tile as a job I would recommend also to use diamond coated bits, but this time something that may have finer diamonds to cleaner cut. A thin-walled bit from Calidad is my go-to because it leaves such a fine finish on the face of the tile. But, most tile installers should have a range of bits that cover all material that you may come across. So with staying that I would say start with diamond-coated bits and eventually move on to investing in more bits as time goes on.

Glass Tile-

     Glass tile is the trickiest (in my personal opinion) to drill holes into. It has this amazing ability to crack and chip at moments when you least expect it. Because of this, I recommend one brand of bits for smaller holes (up to ½”) for both DIY-ers and professionals alike,  these being Milwaukee Tungsten tipped drill bits. These are my recommendation because I have had great experiences with these bits and they always cut beautifully. When cutting larger holes (think shower head or pipes) I recommend a fine diamond-tipped hole saw. These are typically thin-walled bits that do work but may take a couple of tries to get perfect. I use Calidad bits for this (surprise surprise) and they do work for me.